What is the Easiest Math in College?
June 20, 2025
We’re running the mile today, your gym teacher announces. You consider a range of possibilities that include a dramatic ankle twist, the tried-and-true “forgot my sneakers,” and the construction of a large yet surreptitious HELP message with the aim of signaling a passing biplane to swoop down and cart you off to safety. Just as running the mile can feel like a veritable torture chamber for the non-athletically-inclined, math courses can feel similarly painful to students with a propensity for the humanities. If you’re majoring in a STEM field, or pursuing a pre-professional track like medicine or dentistry, math and science courses are inevitable. However, if you struggled through math in high school–and plan to stay at least fifty feet away from any mention of a proof for the rest of your life–you have options. Let’s investigate: what is the easiest math in college?
Do I have to take math in college?
Since the old “you better learn this stuff–it’s not like you can carry a calculator everywhere you go!” rationale no longer holds water, many non-math lovers might wonder why they even need to take math in the first place. After all, it’s unlikely that careers in fields like acting, writing, or teaching will require in-depth calculus knowledge.
However, most colleges do not require non-STEM majors to take pure math courses like calculus, geometry, or algebra. Instead, they mandate one or more math-related courses that typically fall under the “quantitative reasoning” umbrella. Essentially, quantitative reasoning courses help students develop the ability to use mathematics to solve real-world problems.
In “Quantitative Reasoning: The Next “Across the Curriculum” Movement,” Susan Elrod argues that students should be able to practice their skills in interdisciplinary contexts. In line with this recommendation, and in an effort to boost quantitative reasoning competency among their graduates, colleges typically offer a wide range of courses that satisfy math-related requirements. For example, prospective academic researchers might want to take a data analysis course. Graphic designers may opt to learn a programming language. In sum, college math requirements aren’t nearly as rigid as they initially seem.
Most humanities departments–like history, English, and philosophy–won’t require any math within the actual major. Social sciences majors–like economics or psychology–typically require 1-2 statistics or data analysis courses, particularly in relation to research.
However, the courses required for your major are different from the courses required for a degree. You can learn more about this topic in our degree vs. major blog post.
Bottom line: do you have to take math in college? Usually, yes. Although some schools won’t require math at all, most will require one to three math classes as part of their core or distribution requirements. Consequently, you’ll want to research those requirements in order to determine what will be expected.
What are the easiest math course options?
You’ve reviewed your college’s distribution requirements, and it looks like two quantitative reasoning courses are required for graduation. Now what?
If you didn’t despise math that much and are considering a more traditional option, calculus is typically the base-level offering. It’s rare that colleges will offer any pure math options that are simpler than calculus. This is because most students will have taken courses like algebra and precalculus in high school. The ones that do, like Michigan, often make it clear that such courses are remedial in nature. That said, some schools offer special calculus courses for non-math majors.
However, if you’d like to avoid traditional options, what qualifies as a math or quantitative reasoning course may surprise you. Since there is no faster way to derail the learning process than to force students to engage with material that they see no value in, particularly at the collegiate level, universities have adapted accordingly. Therefore, if you’re a humanities major looking to fulfill quantitative reasoning and/or math-related distribution requirements, you’ll find a wide range of nontraditional math courses available in subjects like astronomy, sociology, economics, and environmental science. Your clearest path to an easy and practical math course lies in researching these options.
Likewise, STEM majors might find themselves equally surprised about the variety of humanities-related courses available. For instance, University of Rochester math majors can opt to satisfy the upper-level writing requirement in several ways. Courses include History of Mathematics or Mathematics: Communicating Your Professional Identity, which focuses on developing career-related materials like resumes, cover letters, and project descriptions.
Examples of the Easiest College Math Courses
Do you have to take math in college? Keep scrolling to learn more about the math-related distribution requirement and associated course offerings at ten colleges.
Amherst College
Math-centric Distribution Requirements: None.
There are no math courses required at Amherst (yes, you read that correctly!). That said, non-math major students who would like to explore the subject can choose from a variety of tailored options designed for non-majors:
- Geometry and Relativity
- Calculus with Algebra
- Calculus with Elementary Functions
- Mathematical Modeling
- Statistical Ethics & Institutions
Related: How to Get Into Amherst
Bates
Math-centric Distribution Requirements: One Quantitative and Formal Reasoning course.
Introductory math courses include Working with Data, Calculus I, Great Ideas in Mathematics, and Introduction to Data Science. However, if students are only trying to satisfy the Quantitative and Formal Reasoning distribution requirement, they can choose from a range of courses in a multitude of departments:
- Social Spaces, Places, and Geographic Information Systems (Sociology)
- Katahdin to Acadia: Field Geology in Maine (Earth and Climate Sciences)
- Music Theory
- Introduction to Logic (Philosophy)
Aiming for a BS? You’ll also need to complete either Calculus II or Multivariable Calculus.
Related: Best Liberal Arts Colleges
Binghamton University (SUNY)
Math-centric Distribution Requirements: One Mathematics course.
Do you have to take math in college? Binghamton says yes, but with lots of flexibility. Binghamton offers an array of first-year appropriate courses in the mathematics, anthropology, and philosophy departments, among others, that satisfy the math/reasoning requirement:
- Mathematics in Action, which covers real-world applications
- Elementary Statistics
- Calculus for Business and Management
- Elementary Logic (Philosophy)
- Statistics in Anthropology
- Statistics for Management
Related: How to Get Into Binghamton University; The Public Ivies
Claremont McKenna
Math-centric Distribution Requirements: One mathematics or computer science course.
Introductory math courses include Calculus I and Calculus I-A. Calculus I-A is “intended to introduce students to the subject” and is therefore the easier option. From there, most math courses require some type of prerequisite. Similarly, there are just a few computer science options that do not have a prerequisite:
- Introduction to Computer Science (through Harvey Mudd)
- Introduction to Computer Science for Non-Majors (through Pitzer)
- Computing for the Web (through Claremont McKenna)
Related: Best Liberal Arts Colleges
Georgetown
Math-centric Distribution Requirements: One Quantitative Reasoning and Data Literacy course.
What is the easiest math in college? At Georgetown, there are many possible answers. The math department offers several courses for non-majors. One such option is Mathematics in Society, which delves into mathematical approaches in relation to conflict resolution and decision-making. There are also introductory calculus and statistics courses.
Outside of the math department, the quantitative reasoning and data literacy requirement can be satisfied by a diverse range of courses that include:
- Poverty and Inequality (Economics)
- Analysis of Political Data (Government)
- Introduction to Epidemiology (Healthcare Management & Policy)
- Computational Language Processing (Linguistics)
Related: How to Get Into Georgetown
Harvard
Math-centric Distribution Requirements: One course that satisfies the Quantitative Reasoning with Data requirement.
For students wondering “do you have to take math in college?” Harvard is transparent with the answer. Accordingly, they maintain a list of QRD courses. These include courses from a range of departments, such as:
- Celestial Navigation (Astronomy)
- Great Ideas in Computer Science
- Paleoclimate as Prologue (Earth & Planetary Sciences)
- Sounds of Language (Linguistics)
- Statistics for Social Sciences
In addition, Introduction to Calculus is the most basic traditional math option. Introduction to Functions and Calculus I will be more challenging and cover a greater amount of material.
Related: How to Get Into Harvard
Tufts
Math-centric Distribution Requirements: 2 classes in mathematical sciences. One can be a course equivalent (i.e., AP or IB credit).
Tufts offers a wide variety of courses for non-math majors. Foundational classes offered by the math department include Introduction to Finite Mathematics (requires geometry and algebra) and Introduction to Statistics. Introduction to Calculus is more basic than Calculus I. In addition, more creative courses include:
- Mathematics in Antiquity (history of mathematics in ancient civilizations)
- Mathematics of Social Choice (social decision-making)
- Symmetry (symmetry of wallpaper patterns)
There are also many courses available from other departments. Several of these include Logic, a philosophy course, and Introduction to Computer Programming.
Do you have to take math in college? At Tufts, the answer is yes—with an incredible amount of freedom.
Related: How to Get Into Tufts
University of Georgia
Math-centric Distribution Requirements: One math Foundation course and one Quantitative Reasoning course.
We love an organized list of distribution courses, and UGA delivers. To satisfy the Foundation requirement, students can choose from thirteen different math courses. These include Introduction to Mathematical Modeling, Precalculus, Introductory Statistics, and several calculus options.
For the Quantitative Reasoning course, students can choose from courses in physics, philosophy, and anthropology, to name a few. Examples include:
- The Art and Science of Asking Questions (Anthropology)
- Strategic Visual Thinking (Art)
- Symbolic Logic (Philosophy)
- Introduction to Data Science (Statistics)
Related: How to Get Into UGA
University of Michigan
Math-centric Distribution Requirements: Quantitative Reasoning requirement (either one “QR/1” course or two “QR/2” courses). In addition, students must take courses in three out of five distribution areas. This could include one or more math courses if students so choose.
At Michigan, calculus is typically the introductory math course. There is also Data, Functions, and Graphs, which is described as “a preparatory class to the calculus sequences and as a class for students who are interested in strengthening their math skills.”
If students only intend to satisfy the QR requirement, a wide range of courses are available. These include:
- Memes, Measles and Misinformation
- Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- The Discovery of the DNA Double Helix and its Hidden Mysteries
- Energy and Climate Change: Technology, Markets, and Policy
- Physics of Music
- Physics of Architecture and Design
Related: How to Get into Michigan
Vanderbilt
Math-centric Distribution Requirements: 1 Math & Natural Sciences course
Students can opt to take any course that satisfies the Math & Natural Sciences Capacity requirement; these courses are available in myriad departments. (Translation: you could possibly avoid math altogether). Possible options include:
- Mind and Brain
- Introduction to Observational Astronomy
- Introduction to Biological Anthropology
- Science for Everyone (how science impacts daily life)
- Ethical Questions in Communication at First Contact (ethical questions in science fiction literature)
Related: How to Get Into Vanderbilt
What is the Easiest Math in College – Final Thoughts
College courses will feel the most meaningful and relevant when you’re interested not only in learning the material but also in building cross-disciplinary connections. To that end, before choosing a math or quantitative reasoning course, consider which career-related skills feel most practical and important. Even if math isn’t your forte, it’s absolutely possible to find classes that add value to your major of choice.
For more information about math-related topics, check out the following blogs:
